President Jacob Zuma would, on July 19, launch the first phase of Operation Phakisa, a government initiative aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of some of the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan.

Operation Phakisa is modelled on the government of Malaysia’s Big Fast Results methodology, which that country used to address its national key priority areas, including poverty, crime and unemployment, besides other aspects.

The methodology entails eight sequential steps, which include convening a laboratory (lab) to bring key stakeholders together for intensive planning at a practical and detailed level, setting targets, monitoring of the progress of implementation and making the results public.

Two labs will be convened in South Africa.

Firstly, the Department of Environmental Affairs has an elaborate plan for enhancing the ocean economy.

The Presidency indicated that there was “massive” untapped economic potential related to South Africa’s oceans, in the areas of marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture, and marine protection services and governance.

These activities could potentially contribute up to R177-billion to the country’s gross domestic product by 2033.

Secondly, the Department of Health, together with the Presidency, will also focus on developing a detailed implementation strategy for improving the quality of care in all public sector clinics.